Wrench



E. B. WHITE Nov. 17 1925- WRENCH Filed March 19, 1924 Patented Nov. 17,1925.

EBERB. WHITE, orsourn BEND, INDIANA.

'WRENCH.

Application filed March 19, 1924. Serial No. 700,292.

To all whomz't may concern.-

Be it' knownthat I, EBER B. IVHIT a citizen of theUnited States, andresident of 'South Bend, in the county of Saint Joseph and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenchesand I do hereby declare the following to he a' full, clear,'and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches, and moreparticularly to that type which may be termed end wrenches, one objectof the invention being to provide an end wrench which shall be capableof easy and quick adjustment within a considerable range. which shallprovide means to positively lock the jaws in the positions to which theymay be adjusted, and which shall insure the parallel relations of thegripping faces of the jaws at all times.

A further object is to so construct a wrench of'the type specified thatthe jaws shall be freely movable without means, such as a screw, to movethem, to adjust said jaws to the size of a nut or bolt head on which itmay be desired to use the wrench.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in theclaim. I

In the accompanying drawings,-

Figure 1 is a view inelevation showing a wrench embodying myimprovements;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view with the jaws and locking member inelevation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a different adjustment ofthe jaws and the application of the latter to a nut.

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken at rightangles to Fig. 2; and

Fig. .5 is a view showing the jaws.

The body portion of the wrench comprises a tubular handle member 1 and aforward tapering or wedge-shaped hollow head or member 2 in axialalinement therewith. The portion 2 of the wrench body may be integralwith the tubular handle portion 1 and is flattened in appearance,providing opposed inner faces 3 which diverge forwardly from the tubularhandle member 1.

The tapering portion 2 of the Wrench body receives two jaws 4.- havingbeveled or inclined edge portions 5 which engage the faces 3 in theflaring body member 2 and are capabl-eof free sliding movementthereagainst. At their forward ends, thejaws are made with grippingfaces 6 which are at all times parallel with each other and parallelwith the longitudinal axis of the wrench. Each jaw is providedwith arecess one or the outer wall 8 of which is parallel with the inclinededge portion 5, and the other wall 9 of each recess 7 is disposed so asto be at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the respective jaws socooperate as to form wedged-shape opening as clearly indicated in Figs.1 and 2, and in this opening a portion of the locking means is located.The locking means abovereferred to comprises (in the embodiment of theinvention shown in the drawing), a head 10 having beveled edges 11parallel with the beveled or inclined walls 8 of the recesses in thejaws and an end face 12 to engage the end walls 9 in the respectivejaws. The locking head 10 is carried by one end of a rod 13 which passesbetween the rear portions of the jaws and through. the tubular portion 1of the wrench body. The rod 13 has its rear portion threaded as at 14-,and this threaded end of the rod enters an internally threaded nut 15,the latter being provided with a contracted portion 16 mounted in anenlargement of the bore of the tubular handle memher, 1, and the nut 15is preferably nurled or roughened exteriorly to facilitate turning ofthe same by the user.

If desired, guiding means for the jaws relatively to each other may beprovided and, as shown in the drawings, such guiding means may consistof a pin 17 fixed to one of the jaws and freely entering a socket 18 inthe other jaw.

With my improvements, the jaws may be moved freely to any desiredposition of adjustment and should they be moved more than sufficient totake a nut between their gripping faces, pressure of the ends of thejaws against an object adjacent to the nut will cause the jaws toapproach .each other and grip the nut. In many instances it would not benecessary to lock the jaws in adjusted position where the wrench is usedin the manner above explained. It is often dewrench. The recesses 7 ofthe p sirable however that the jaws be locked in some particularadjustment and such looking is effected by the devices hereinbeforedescribed for this purpose. It is apparent that when the jaws shall havebeen set at the desired adjustment, slight movement of the head 10 willcause the jaws to be clamped against the inner inclined faces 3 of thebody. member 2. Such movement of the locking head may be readilyeffected by a slight turning of the nut 15. When it is de sired tounlock the jaws, the nut will be given an approximately quarter turn sothat the clamping of the jaws against the inclined or diverging faces 3of the body member 2 will be relieved and then the jaws may be movedfreely to any desired zlCljUStlIlGllt.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters-Patent, is:

A wrench comprising a handle member and a hollow body portion projectingfrom the handle member in axial alinement therewith, said body portionhaving opposite diverging sides, a pair of jaws having outer divergentsides slidably engaging the diverging si-des of the body, the jaws beingprovided in their inner sides with recesses the outer walls of which areparallel with the outer walls of the jaws, a head disposed between thejaws and having beveled ends engaging against the outer walls of therecesses in the jaws, and means within the handle member for shiftingthe head between an-d longitudinally of the jaws whereby to clamp thejaws against the sides of the body.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EBER B. WHITE.

